[ale] the truth about contracting?

[Tony Ucedavelez]

I concur with your hesitation, especially if she needlessly is emphasizing 
that contracts are always renewed (even when not being asked).

I contracted for 2 seperate consulting firms here in Atlanta, but the 
economic times were different and things were definitely a lot more stable. 
 But having many peers who are contracting in the southeast, they have 
indeed had their share of false promises.  As always, this isn't a sure 
guarantee that it'll be the same for you, but I definitely would listen to 
your gut feeling.

A lot of contractors try to size up the stability by asking to meet other 
contractors currently staffed at the recruiter's client site.  Usually this 
opptunity is best when you interview at the client site (which is something 
that they usually do in a round 2 or 3 of interviews).  See if you can get 
a feel for the environment by speaking to any contractors currently working 
at the client site (ideally who have even been placed by the recruiting 
firm itself).

Some of the things to look out for (and that are available to the 
contractor) is the contracted term between the client and the recruiter.  I 
had an experience where I was verbally promised a year's work, but I later 
found out after repeated questioning that the contracted term between the 
client and the recruiter was only for 3 months!  So make sure that what's 
verbally communicated to you is the same as what's in paper between them 
and their client.

best of luck.

Antonio O. UcedaVelez
Programmer
DATAMATX
3146 Northeast Expressway
Atlanta, GA  30341-5345
(o) 770.936.5600 Ext. 277
(f) 770.936.5614
tucedavelez at datamatx.com

-----Original Message-----
From:	John Wells [SMTP:jb at sourceillustrated.com]
Sent:	Thursday, April 25, 2002 11:13 AM
To:	ale at ale.org
Subject:	[ale] the truth about contracting?

I received a call from a recruiter last night regarding a contract position
she has with a large corporation here in Atlanta.  While I'm typically wary
of contract work, she assured me that all the contractors she's placed 
there
are always renewed...in her words "long-term" contractors.

Anyway, the contract is for a year, but she keeps guaranteeing it will be
renewed.  The pay is a bit higher than what I'm making now, which makes it
sort of attractive, but I'm not completely sold.  It was my opinion that
contractors are typically the first to go in a layoff, but she says this
company actually wants to keep contractors and layoff employees in that
case...

Wanted to hear what the group thought.  What have your experiences been?
Have you been made these sorts of claims/promises before only to see them
fall through?  What are the caveats of contract work?

As always, thanks for the info.

John


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